What I noticed first about my new parrot, Chico, was that he couldn’t fly. His wings had been cut short and he was stuck on the 1 just like us humans. When the weather turned nice, I took Chico outside. I sat him on a branch of a tree, hoping to make him 2 . At first he seemed 3 . He walked back and forth on the branch looking anxious or nervous. He didn’t even flap his wings in an attempt to fly. Somehow he knew he was 4 .
One day Chico got especially excited . He paced back and forth and made an incredible amount of 5 . Then all of a sudden he stopped and let out an even louder scream. He started 6 flapping his wings for the first time ever - then he lifted off the 7 like a space shuttle! I was amazed and 8 . Little did I know his feathers had been growing back, and Chico had been 9 until the moment was ripe for escape!
Two days later Chico 10 . First I tried to trick him back with food, but he would not come near me. Then I took his 11 and put it away—still he would not come. Finally, I made him a firm promise that I would let him 12 every day the weather was nice if he did come back. 13 , he flew onto my shoulder.
From that day on, whenever the weather was good I would let him out early and he would fly around and be back before dark. The 14 lasted for two months before suddenly Chico became 15 . The vet said that he had been infected with a disease from the pigeons in the neighborhood. Within a few days he died.
I was very sad. The 16 crossed my mind that if I had not set him free to fly, he would be still alive. But what 17 is there in being a bird if you can’t fly?
Chico made his first break for 18 on a late Monday afternoon in April. When will you make yours? You too can take a 19 when the conditions are right, knowing you too, in your own way, were built to fly. If you don’t 20 , what will be the purpose of your life?
A.floor B.earth C.scene D.road
A.smarter B.healthier C.happier D.stronger
A.disappointed B.determined C.frightened D.confused
A.incapable B.disabled C.wrong D.stupid
A.noise B.progress C.energy D.consideration
A.slowly B.gently C.madly D.gracefully
A.ground B.tree C.cage D.branch
A.moved B.shocked C.delighted D.excited
A.struggling B.pacing C.flying D.waiting
A.left B.returned C.survived D.recovered
A.cage B.feather C.chain D.food
A.in B.out C.off D.alone
A.As usually B.At that moment C.Once in a while D.At the same time
A.action B.attempt C.routine D.effort
A.active B.injured C.sad D.ill
A.fact B.concern C.thought D.detail
A.sense B.mistake C.interest D.problem
A.life B.freedom C.fun D.food
A.break B.holiday C.chance D.look
A.keep yourself busy B.cheer yourself up C.let yourself down D.set yourself free